Divergent single filer

Abstract

A single file apparatus is provided for highly etched containers wherein a mass of containers is separated into two single file rows, the single file rows are merged into nesting relationship and the nested rows of containers separated and further merged into single file. The mass of containers are separated into separate rows along each side of an air conveyor having an imperforate cover forming a high pressure area between the rows. The differential pressure in this high pressure area is lower at the upstream end than at the downstream end so that containers which move into this central area will recirculate upstream. The separated rows of containers are brought into an alignment zone and arranged in nested relationship and are merged into an equilateral triangular configuration with mutually touching side edges in a nesting section within the alignment zone. The containers then are accelerated into a high pressure buffer section of the alignment zone where they are separated from each other and converged into single file. This buffer section eliminates the possibility of transmission of upstream forces caused by engagement of the single file containers by downstream equipment so that such forces will not be transmitted back through the single file apparatus.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of transporting upright, cylindrical articles, wherein each article has an exterior surface with a high coefficient of friction with respect to an adjacent article that substantially inhibits relative sliding motion of one article with respect to an adjacent contiguous article, in a wide mass at an upstream location along an air table and into single file at a downstream location, said method comprising: separating the articles into two spaced apart single file rows at the upstream location;   converging the spaced rows into contiguous nested rows of articles as they move downstream;   moving the nested two rows of articles downstream as a unit;   accelerating the articles in the two nested rows as they move downstream to separate them each from the other; and   converging the articles into single file while they are separated as they move to the downstream location.   
     
     
       2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separating step includes: creating a high air pressure zone at the center of the air table to separate the articles into the two spaced rows.   
     
     
       3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said accelerating step includes: providing a high pressure zone where the articles are accelerated, wherein the pressure in said high pressure zone decreases in the downstream direction.   
     
     
       4. A method of transporting upright, cylindrical articles, wherein each article has an exterior surface with a high coefficient of friction with respect to an adjacent article that substantially inhibits relative sliding motion of one article with respect to an adjacent contiguous article, in a wide mass at an upstream location along an air table and into a pair of spaced single file rows at a downstream location, said method comprising: providing a pair of side guide rails along opposite sides of the table which extend from the upstream location to the downstream location and are spaced apart a distance in excess of three article diameters at the upstream location and an imperforate cover above the table a distance just greater than the height of the articles and extending over the guide rails;   providing a central barrier at the downstream location which forms a single file lane along each guide rail for the articles and provides a plenum for the introduction of air pressure into the central area between separate rows of articles along each guide rail;   introducing air at high volume and a low flow rate at the barrier to direct articles in the central area toward the upstream location;   urging the articles along the side rails in a downstream direction to form a continuous row along each guide rail; and   reducing the pressure in the central area at the upstream location.   
     
     
       5. A method, as claimed in claim 4, including the further step of: floating any articles which get in the central area on a layer of air so that the differential air pressure in the central area will cause those articles to move back toward the upstream location.   
     
     
       6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, including the further step of: urging the articles, which move upstream along the central area, toward the side rails at the upstream location.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus for converging a mass of upright cylindrical articles from a wide mass at an upstream location into single file at a downstream location, wherein each article has an exterior surface with a high coefficient of friction with respect to an adjacent article, said apparatus comprising: a table having a centerline and a plurality of zones extending from said upstream location to said downstream location, said table having a surface, first and second opposite side edges and an underside with a prearranged pattern of flotation air jets communicating said surface and said underside;   a lower plenum means connectable to a source of air under pressure and attached to said underside of said table surface;   means for separating the articles into two separate spaced rows of loosely arranged articles at a first zone;   means for conveying the spaced rows through a second zone and bringing the articles in each row into tight contiguous contacting relationship;   means for arranging the spaced rows in a third zone;   means for converging the spaced rows into nested relationship and moving them as a unit in a fourth zone; and   means for subsequently accelerating the articles to separate them and converging them into single file in said fourth zone.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lower plenum means includes a lower master plenum located under said table and substantially coextensive therewith and said separating means in said first zone comprises: a first lower plenum substantially coextensive with said first zone and in communication with said master plenum, and having first, second and third lateral sections;   first damper means to control flow of air from said master plenum to said first lower plenum;   a first set of flotation jets parallel to one of said edges which are angled in the downstream direction in communication with said first section of said first lower plenum and positioned under one spaced row of articles for conveying them toward said downstream location;   a second set of flotation jets parallel to said other of said edges which are angled in the downstream direction in communication with said second section of said first lower plenum and positioned under the other spaced row of articles for conveying them toward said downstream location;   a third set of flotation jets between said first and second sets of flotation jets in communication with the third section of said first lower plenum, the jets on the side of said centerline closest said one side being angled toward said one side and the jets on the side of said centerline closest said other side being angled toward said other side so that any article over said third set of flotation jets will be urged toward one of said side edges; and   exhaust means in said cover over said third set of flotation jets to create an area therebetween of reduced high pressure so that articles which enter the reduced high pressure area tend to move upstream toward said upstream location to reenter the wide mass of articles.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first damper means comprises: a first and second damper for said first and second lateral sections operated by a common control; and   a third damper for said third lateral section operated by a separate control.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said upper plenum means further includes: a first longitudinal upper plenum along one edge of said table above said cover, said cover forming the bottom wall of said first longitudinal upper plenum;   a first longitudinal row of air jets in said first longitudinal upper plenum extending through said cover in a downstream direction above said first sets of flotation jets;   a second longitudinal upper plenum along said other edge of said table above said cover, said cover forming the bottom wall of said second longitudinal upper plenum;   a second longitudinal row of air jets in said second longitudinal upper plenum extending through said cover in a downstream direction above said second sets of flotation jets; and   means supplying air under pressure to said first and second longitudinal upper plenums so that air from said first and second rows of air jets assist in balancing and moving the articles along their respective rows.   
     
     
       11. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said exhaust means includes: an exhaust plenum between said first and second longitudinal upper plenums;   a plurality of exhaust openings in said cover for exhausting air into said exhaust plenum; and   an outlet in said exhaust plenum.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said exhaust openings are in greater numbers toward the upstream end of said cover, further including: a damper in said outlet for controlling the air pressure over said third set of flotation jets.   
     
     
       13. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for supplying air under pressure to said first and second longitudinal upper plenums comprises: an upper master plenum in communication with each of said first and second longitudinal upper plenums; and   baffle means for controlling the flow of air into said upper master plenum.   
     
     
       14. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for conveying in said second zone further includes: a second lower plenum substantially coextensive with said second zone and in communication with said lower master plenum, said second lower plenum having first, second and third lateral sections;   second damper means to control flow of air from said lower master plenum to said second lower plenum; and   first, second and third sets of flotation jets in communication with said second lower plenum which jets are a continuation of said first, second and third sets of flotation jets in said first zone, except that said flotation jets in said third zone are substantially perpendicular.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second damper means comprises: a first and second damper for said first and second lateral sections operated by a common control; and   a third damper for said third lateral section operated by a separate control.   
     
     
       16. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, further including: a second zone upper plenum substantially coextensive with said second zone, said cover forming the bottom wall of said second zone upper plenum;   a first longitudinal row of air jets in said second zone upper plenum extending through said cover in a downstream direction above said first sets of flotation jets and being aligned with and an extension of said first longitudinal row of air jets in said first longitudinal upper plenum;   a second longitudinal row of air jets in said second zone upper plenum extending through said cover in a downstream direction above said second set of flotation jets and being aligned with and an extension of said second longitudinal row of air jets in said second longitudinal upper plenum; and   damper means to adjust the flow of air into said second zone upper plenum.   
     
     
       17. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said third zone comprises: baffle means at the downstream end of said third zone between said table and said cover defining the downstream end of a high pressure area over said third set of flotation jets.   
     
     
       18. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, further including: means for introducing air at high volume into said high pressure area, said air having a pressure which is greater than the air pressure at said exhaust means so that articles in the high pressure area will move toward said exhaust means, said pressure at said baffle means being less than the air pressure in said plenums.   
     
     
       19. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said baffle means includes: a first baffle spaced from and parallel to one of said edges, said spacing being just greater than the diameter of the articles;   a second baffle spaced from and parallel to said other edge, said spacing being just greater than the diameter of the articles; and   a cross baffle between said first and second baffles.   
     
     
       20. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said third lateral section of said second lower plenum and said third set of flotation jets extend into the central portion of said third zone and said third lateral section is substantially coextensive with said high pressure area defining means.   
     
     
       21. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 20, wherein said means for arranging the spaced rows in said third zone further comprises: a third lower plenum having first and second portions on opposite sides of said third portion of said second lower plenum;   a first and second set of flotation jets in communication with said third lower plenum which are a continuation of said first and second sets of flotation jets in said second zone; and   first and second damper means controlling the flow of air into said first and second portions of said third lower plenum operated by a single control.   
     
     
       22. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fourth zone comprises: a nesting section for receiving the spaced rows of articles from said third zone and bringing them into contiguous equilateral configuration;   opposed converging guides, each having a pair of vertically spaced rails for urging the articles into nesting relationship;   a buffer section for receiving the contiguous nested rows of articles from said nesting section;   converging, imperforate side walls extending along said table through said buffer section to reduce the articles from a two article width at said nesting section to single file adjacent said downstream location;   an imperforate cover over said buffer section to create a high pressure area within said buffer section to facilitate separation of the articles therein;   means for selectively decreasing the air pressure in said buffer section from a point spaced downstream from said nesting section to said downstream location; and   acceleration jets in said table along said buffer section for accelerating the articles so that they can be converged by said side walls into single file as they are separated from the contiguous triangular configuration.